Below I've linked to the product I'm looking at for supporting the overhang over the dishwasher.

I'm also considering a smaller bracket by the same manufacturer to support the planned 15" overhang on my kitchen island. I would need 4 of those to support 5 ft of breakfast bar overhang right?

[Sigh, another specialty hardware product - the shipping on this stuff is killing me.]

Here is a link that might be useful: Freedom Granite Countertop Bracket - 20

Won't the thickness of that bracket you pictured push the dishwasher too far down and forward?

Thanks for your reply sjhockeyfan :)

"Won't the thickness of that bracket you pictured push the dishwasher too far down and forward?"

I have lots of room at the back of the dishwasher - almost 5" - so pushing forward isn't an issue. Pushing the dishwasher down may be an issue though. I'm not sure how thick the steel bracket needs to be - they list a number of thicknesses to a max of 1/2". [edited to add: the 20x20 bracket is 1/2" thick] If that thickness was required, I would need to add a horizontal stainless filler strip above the dishwasher. Maybe that would look bad?...not sure. The legs of the dishwasher are adjustable so they would allow for that.

This post was edited by feisty68 on Tue, Apr 1, 14 at 17:18

Screw some cleats to those panels, one on the back wall, and be done. It's an 80 lb. piece of granite.

Thanks for your input Trebuchet. If I add cleats on either side I will have to add fillers to hide them on both sides because the dishwasher sides rise straight up to the top (see below) - they don't curve. I'm hoping to avoid that to protect my filler space to the left of the fridge so that the hinges operate properly

Unless I am misunderstanding your advice?

It seems to me that if you have room for a steel bracket between your DW and countertop, you have room for a cleat on the fridge panel and the back wall.

fiesty68:

I assumed your dishwasher opening was a standard 24" when I suggested blocking on the panels and wall.

The dishwasher sides rising to the top and not curving makes no sense to me.

A 1" aluminum "L" channel siliconed and and fastened with countersunk 1/2" screws will make an inconspicuous, unobtrusive, and strong cleat attached to a 5/8" particle board panel.

I really appreciate your help Annkh, Hollysprings, and Trebuchet :)

So, the thread I linked to below clarified a lot for me! The dishwasher isn't installed yet and I wasn't 100% clear on the installation requirements. I learned a few things:

a. the dishwasher opening needs to be exactly 23-5/8" wide in order to prevent noise issues

b. the dishwasher needs to be installed with no gap between its top and the countertop

What that means is -

1. I cannot use the 20x20 L brackets mounted on the back wall because they would cause an unacceptable 1/2" gap on top of the dishwasher (noise issues)

2. I probably should not use cleats on the sides, because that would create gaps beside the dishwasher sides, which could lead to noise issues.

That leaves an additional panel on the left hand side (bracketed to the wall/floor) as the only solution that will create an acceptable dishwasher install *and* countertop support. Now I have to evaluate how to deal with the resulting asymmetry (more panel on the left hand side of the dishwasher) and figure out if I still have enough hinge clearance on the left hand side of the fridge.

Trebuchet - thank you for the instructions on how to attach a cleat to 5/8" particleboard - that is very useful info that I will use elsewhere in the kitchen install :)

Annkh - I have room at the back, not the sides.

Hollysprings - bingo with your comment on how gaps will affect dishwasher install.

Here is a link that might be useful: Help with noisy Miele Diamond?

I have an overhang area like this in my kitchen. It's just supported by a wooden box case that goes all the way around the edge & is drilled into the studs (mine is a bit larger than yours). The front is covered with a cabinet fill piece, or something like that. I'll try to post a pic tonight if I remember.

.... nevermind. I totally read that wrong & thought you were leaving a little nook beside the dishwasher that would be open. DUH...

This post was edited by teachertile on Wed, Apr 2, 14 at 13:36

Symmetry is overrated.

Thanks for trying to help teachertile.

Sjhockeyfan - sacrilege!